Bear Down Wildcats

As Arizona's Adia Barnes departs, what will her legacy be? | Greg Hansen

Greg Hansen Apr 8, 2025

Adia Barnes’ legacy at Arizona is unclear: Will she be remembered as the coach who led Arizona to the 2021 Final Four? Or will her legacy be that her program limped home the last few seasons, wrecked by an unusually high number of player defections?

Either way, she will join UCLA basketball coach Ben Howland and ASU football coach Bruce Snyder as the three most prominent ex-Pac-12 football/basketball coaches whose programs found greatness and then unexpectedly blew up.

Howland took over a 10-17 Bruins program from Steve Lavin in 2004 and went to three consecutive Final Fours, 2006-08. But he soon went 14-18 and 19-14 and was fired. What happened? All-Americans Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook went to the NBA.

Snyder took over a four-year, 22-21-1 program from Larry Marmie in 1992. By 1996, Snyder was at the Rose Bowl, 11-1, and was 30 seconds from winning the national championship. He soon went 5-6, 6-6 and 6-6 and was fired. What happened? QB Jake Plummer went to the NFL.

Barnes took over an absolute disaster from Niya Butts, five straight losing seasons, and went to the 2021 national championship game five years later. She soon went 18-16 and 19-14. What happened? Point guard Aari McDonald was in the WNBA, plus there were far too many key NIL player departures.

Barnes told me, in a very unhappy tone, that the UA women’s basketball team is projected to receive just 2% of next year’s $20 million revenue-sharing money, about $400,000, which means she would have difficulty competing in the NIL/free agent market. But that’s reality. Two percent is probably what most women’s basketball programs will receive.

The UA has revealed that Tommy Lloyd‘s men’s basketball team will receive about 21% of the revenue sharing, or about $4.2 million. The football program will get about 70%, or $15 million. Those are identical to the numbers Big 12 rival Texas Tech made public recently.

That leaves about 10% to divide between baseball, softball and women’s basketball.

SEC schools, for instance, are expected to distribute their $20.5 million budgets by adapting the settlement’s back-pay formula: “75 percent to football players, 15 percent for men’s basketball, 5 percent for women’s basketball and 5 percent for others.” (Player payments in those first three would average in the low six figures or high fives, along with scholarships and NIL.)

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/626495 ... dailyemail

Arizona women's basketball hires WNBA vet, entrepreneur for new general manager role

Arizona Daily Star - Apr 18, 2025

NBA veteran and entrepreneur Michelle Marciniak has been named general manager of Arizona women’s basketball.

The position, which did not exist under former UA head coach Adia Barnes, is responsible for program operations, staffing, roster management, global recruiting and NIL development.

Marciniak, the co-founder of SHEEX, a performance bedding company that she led for 17 years as co-CEO, played at Tennessee, helping lead the Lady Vols to two SEC championships, back-to-back Final Fours and a 1996 NCAA national championship.
Cycling For Summitt Basketball

Michelle Marciniak, of Tennessee, holds the women’s NCAA National Championship trophy after Tennessee defeated Georgia 83-65 in the finals of the 1996 NCAA Tournament.
Amy Sancetta, Associated Press

She would go on to play professionally for six seasons in the ABL and WNBA before serving as an assistant coach at South Carolina.

In fact, it was at South Carolina where Marciniak signed new UA women’s hoops coach Becky Burke as part of a nationally ranked top-10 class.
“We have hit an absolute home run with the addition of Michelle Marciniak to Arizona women’s basketball,” Burke said in a news release. “She was one of the best players in the history of our game and is also one of the most successful businesswomen in the country.

“Her experience, connections and knowledge are second to none, but her competitive spirit and passion for the game are what make her, her. Michelle’s mentorship of our players will be invaluable.”

Under Marciniak’s leadership, SHEEX raised more than $25 million in capital, secured 53 patents across 24 countries and became a globally recognized brand featured by The New York Times, Sports Illustrated and O, The Oprah Magazine, the Arizona Athletics news release said.

“I’m truly honored to step into the GM role at Arizona,” Marciniak said. “This opportunity brings together everything I care deeply about — the business of basketball, leadership and building something meaningful alongside others. ... With deep respect for (Athletic Director) Desireé (Reed-Francois), Becky, our staff and the entire Arizona community, my goal is to help elevate the Arizona women’s basketball brand and build a sustainable national championship program.”

Marciniak will also act as an advisor to Burke, aligning on program culture, leadership and national brand strategy.

84Cat wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 8:29 am When you don't overpay the head coach you have money to get good people around the head coach

AZCatGirl wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 11:10 am

84Cat wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 8:29 am When you don't overpay the head coach you have money to get good people around the head coach

Almost like letting Adia walk was better for the long term health of the program or something.